Supernatural 4:21 & 22

"When the Levee Breaks"
Rating: 3/5

I wasn't completely blown away by this episode. I was confused as to whether what was happening in Sam's head was all Sam or if it was Ruby's blood manipulating him. Since in the next episode he hears a completely different voice-mail message, I'm starting to feel now like the blood has manipulated his thought process for a long while. Kind of like a Harry Potter... always being manipulated/affected by the aspect of Voldy's soul ... this is how I feel about Sam this season. Which makes it hard. Because I never liked him - and I really had issues with his treatment of Dean in this episode. If I'm supposed to swallow this now and think of him fondly in hindsight - it's not really going to work. It didn't work for Harry, it's not going to work for Sam. Sorry guys.

A little frustrated with Bobby for not really seeing the big picture. And yeah - it would be hard to accept the fact that Dean is willing to kill his brother to save him, but I think that's what recovering from addiction is like: part of the person is going to die, going to be repressed down to its smallest part. And detoxing is hard on the family as well. I think the writing was... well, as usual - a little too on the nose. I really need these writers to learn some subtlety, it's becoming part of the characters (yes), but it's annoying as all get-out.


"Lucifer Rising"
Rating: 3/5

Once again, minus points for the lack of subtlety.

Let's start with how much the "evolution" of Ruby from demon-lover to demon-manipulator was SO lame. All of the great characterization from the last season, where she seems to honestly remember being human and had a stronger connection with Dean than Sam. I loved that Ruby - I thought she was badass. I want that Ruby back, somehow. There must be more to her story that we didn't get. Which is bad writing. Straight up. It's not bad writing that Ruby switched sides, it's bad writing because there was no character-driven reason for the switch. I have a theory that it wasn't actually Ruby this whole season - that our Ruby from S3 is actually trapped below and will come back someday and say "Sorry guys, someone stole my name." < I can dream, can't I?

Let's go to the good characterization: my boy Castiel. Oh man. He's a stunner. I have nothing else to say but this: I "accidentally" read an episode description for the season that is airing now. I know where Cas is going. It will keep me going, guys - no joke I can't wait to see his development. This episode, I know without a doubt, is the tip of the iceberg of what Castiel is capable of.
I actually really dig the roles that Dean and Sam were "created" to play - the summoner and the destroyer. I loved the image of Dean looking up at the medieval knight and knowing that he can't play that part. I love that this series is actually dealing with (1) how corrupt the mythology is on both sides  and  (2) how the apocalypse is not just about hell opening - it's about "ending" the war between heaven and hell. (Honestly I always thought in BtVS it was a ridiculous use of the term apocalypse.) 


I'm really glad I made it to the end of this season. I took a huge break from SPN. But I'm trying to make my life normal again. And telling all of you how much I hate Sam - is getting back to normal.

Supernatural 4:12-16

So I'm skipping over the episode-by-episode review to just say that as much as I love this show and love this project, I'm emotionally exhausted. So brief (and by brief I truly mean brief) notes for this group of episodes...

• Angel Anna - Possibly the coolest frackin thing to happen to this series.
•  I love the moment(s) with Dean and his Reaper. It reminded me of the section of His Dark Materials when the children meet people who keep their Deaths in their lives. It's comforting for them, and I loved Dean's acknowledgment that his Death (Tessa) was the thing missing from his life. Their connection... I believed it. Truly, honestly. And it was needed.
• I actually enjoyed the flashback episode. It was Sam-centric, sure. But I think we learned just as much about Dean. Or maybe I'm looking for things about Dean :) I thought it was wonderful to see the moment in which Sam was told not to be in the family business (why we still dwell on that, not sure - this reveal should have happened in S1) and the moment when Dean stopped feeling like the hero of the family. That it happened so young - and that it was in a moment of extreme teenage douchebaggery - makes a lot of sense.
• I got annoyed with Sam's "Dean's not strong enough" bullhookey. Yes, Dean should not have been sent to torture a demon by the angels... but Castiel knew that. It seemed more like a test for Castiel than Dean in the long run. In the end, it's because of this trauma that Cas begins to doubt his world --- unfortunately, it ends up just being Uriel. Oh well, the possibility for development is still there.
• Oh yeah - drinking demon blood? Gross, Sam. Supa gross.

I'm loving this show right now. I promise better reviews soon... but I'm not even doing my hmw right now, let alone keeping up with SPN and blogging.

Someday I'll adjust to the single life.

Supernatural 4.7 & 8

4.7 "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester"


Okay. So I have many thoughts on this episode. I need to start doing my review the second that I get done with the episode, but I need time to let it all stir around in my brain juice.


This episode's rating: 8/10 ... and 3/5 ... let me explain:::


Sam: [Upon meeting Castiel for the first time] Oh, my God! Er, ah, I didn't mean to... sorry. 


Sam's reaction to the Angels was... priceless. I know that it's supposed to be "I'm a religious person and everything I hoped was true, is now standing in front of me" but I got more of a "Holy Shit-Balls! I'm in trouble!" His nervousness and fear, at standing in front of two Angels, was a perfect counter-point to Dean's relative calm. Here are two semi-hostile supernatural creatures, that we don't have to immediately figure out how to destroy, and Dean is ... well, Dean. He handles the situation. Since standing up to John and then dealing with hell, Dean has a new set of balls. And unlike Samuel, who is in a position of feeling necessary reverence and respect for Castiel and Uriel, Dean already knows that if he wants any leverage in his relationship with Castiel then he has to take power whenever he can. 


Castiel... this kid cracks me up. He's always staring right into Dean's eyes like Dean is a toy or a puzzle that he just can't figure out. So far, the best moment of this was in their first meeting, when Castiel realized that Dean just doesn't like himself. Now it seems like everything Dean says Castiel is weighing very carefully against some other knowledge that we don't really have at this point. It's great. This actor is perfect, all of his acting is really in his very subtle body language and facial expressions. Which is perfect since Dean operates in a similar manner. There's a ham in there - but in serious moments, everything is quite subtle and can be taken for granted as almost the opposite. Versus Sam - everything is on his chest and over-acted all the time. Bad acting. But it might be why the writers sometimes totally screw with Dean's character - it's like some of them only read the words this man says and forget that they have a fantastic actor performing them in a unique way. (And this is why we have episodes where Dean is "Mr. Playboy" or "Mr. Hardass" or "Mr. Dick" <- none make any sense when you see Jensen Ackles perform... but I digress.) 


So here we are, there's a witch in town and the boys have to stop her/his evil plans ('cause witches are ALWAYS evil, straight up) because if s/he succeeds, then one of the seals is broken and out comes Lucifer and all of hell to play. And Sam whines and Dean stands up. And Uriel is a big-time creeper. And Castiel is curious and amazed.


Can I wax poetics about Castiel for just a second? I love that he is so... almost child-like in his dealings with Dean. He has "orders" that he must follow, which is great to know because it places him in a warrior-class, but everything Dean says is so beyond his frame of reference. Uriel is dismissive and demeaning towards humans, but Castiel has this whole shock-and-awe thing going for him. Nice to see another Angel and be able to weigh his reactions to Castiel's.


Uriel:  The only reason you're still alive, Sam Winchester, is because you've been useful. But the moment that ceases to be true, the second you become more trouble than you're worth, one word, one, and I will turn you to dust. 


Sam practically peeing himself when he sees the Angels for the first time = not so priceless. Sam using his demon-powers and then telling a "superior" creature that they are the assholes = why this rating wavers between a 3 and an 8 on my rating scale. Dean and Sam both have blind faith when it suits their own purposes - much like EVERY religious person I have EVER met. Dean thinks the Angels are kinda sketchy, but is down with their prohibition on Sam's demony-powers. Sam thinks the Angels are noble, brave, and true... total grovelling-worthy guys - until one of them points out that he's an ass for using power he doesn't know (a) how to control or (b) it's original purpose. 


Sam, in this Angel-worshipping scenario, comes off as much more of an ass. His attitude (which I've known in my religious family all my life) is: As long as we agree, god and I are cool. But the second I want to do something he doesn't like, I don't need him. These are the kind that come running back to ultra-conservative beliefs once they fall. Religion is a crutch. These are also the kind that end up following ridiculous rules for no reason.


Dean, however, is much more interesting. He's more like a someday-may-convert-guy rather than a die-hard-born-and-raised-guy. His attitude seems more: I'm not really sure, but when we agree on stuff, I take that very strongly to heart. But -  I'm going to disagree with you, which is okay because you aren't human. Which is arms-flailing-fascinating. To bring religion to a level of human vs. non-human.... in which the "big picture" is all one knows, or the small-stuff is all one knows... very interesting, and very unique. Dean seems to totally understand that the Angels have a hard time grounding themselves in human-reality, because they have no real connection to it.


And a subtle distinction. Why does Sam's attitude piss me off? Because it's true. Why doesn't Dean's? Because it's how I wish more people would act. I've really had it up to my limit with the religious-right lately. Ack! Digression.

Castiel: You misunderstand me Dean. I'm not like you think. I was praying that you would choose to save the town. 
Dean: You were? 
Castiel: These people, they're all my father's creations. They're works of art. And yet, even though you stopped Samhain the seal was broken and we are one step closer to Hell on Earth for all creation. And that's not an expression Dean. It's literal. You of all people should appreciate what that means. Can I tell you something if you promise not to tell another soul? 
Dean: Okay. 
Castiel: I'm not a hammer, as you say. I have questions. I-I have doubts. I don't know what is right and what is wrong anymore, whether you passed or failed here. But, in the coming months, you will have more decisions to make. I don't envy the weight that's on your shoulders, Dean. I truly don't.

This is my closer. Something big is going on with Dean and Castiel. And it's all I want to see. The monster-of-the-week bothers me, we all know this. The relationship between Dean and Sam is completely hindered by bad writing and Padalecki's bad over-acting. After three seasons of Sam-the-Demon-General and Golden Boy, with poor Dean just hanging on to his coat-tails for deal life, dealing with the ever-looming presence of impending death; NOW, finally, Dean is being set up as Dean-the-Angel-General and potential Golden Boy. And since I saw this coming in the first episode (seriously - let's set up a Prodigal Son motif and spend THREE years pretending that we didn't = serious thorn in my side) I'm ready. I'm on the ride, I've been slowly creeping up the tall, tall, tall-tall, drop and I can finally see the tracks beginning to bend forward. I'm ready for the drop. I'm ready for this ride to get serious, for the characters to really start moving towards ... anything.

The boys:

Dean: 7/5 for standing up

Sam: 2/5 for being a douche

Castiel: 10/5 for being a confused Angel - TOO CUTE!!

4.8 "Wishful Thinking"

Dean: I shouldn't have lied to you. I do remember everything that happened to me in the pit. Everything. [...]  I won't lie anymore, but I'm not gonna talk about it. [...] You really think that a little heart-to-heart, some sharing and caring, is going to change anything? Huh? Somehow heal me? I'm not talking about a bad day here. [...] The things that I saw, there aren't words, there is no forgetting, there's no making it better. Because it is right here, forever. You wouldn't understand and I could never make you understand. So I am sorry.

Why do I feel like Dean has had to say this to Sammy before? Oh right, because he has at least a half-dozen times. Pre-hell Dean finally opened up and Sam had what to say? Oh right, absolutely nothing. Post-hell Dean is not obligated to tell Sam anything. Because he's right, talking to the person you love about hell (literally or figuratively) doesn't make anyone feel better. It's about damn time Dean finally said this, the right way. Now - I know, because I'm watching this show, that the writers will force these characters to have this conversation a few million more times before Sam gets it through his thick head that he's pushing the wrong button. 

But! I'm hoping that when/if we get details about hell, it will be between Dean and Castiel. After seeing the park-bench heart-to-heart between Cas and Dean in the last episode, any emotional connection that I could have had with this scene between Dean and Sam was gone. Because really, after going to hell and back you feel the need to apologize to your brother for not being Mr. Sharing? All kinds of wrong.

The boys:

Sam: 2/5 - good detective work, but needs to stop being so whiny

Dean: 5/5 - for saying what needed to be said

Castiel: sadface - for not being present

SPN: 2-6

I was so blown away with episode one that I actually forgot, last weekend, that I hadn't done a write up of the entire first disk. Which was awesome. Today I watched the first two episodes of the second disk. Ugh.... okay I'll wax poetics of the first disk to begin with.

• 4.2 Are you there God? It's me... Dean Winchester...
  Rating: 4/5

I honestly enjoyed this episode immensely. We've dealt with the idea that the Winchester boys can't save everyone, but actually addressing the host bodies that demons take over, was nice to finally s and well done. Each character has their own ... issues to deal with. It was nice to include Bobby in on the angst, and to give equal weight to each boy - though Sam didn't seem as beat up about everything as Dean did. (Which seems to be a theme going here.)

Can I just say - right here, right now - Castiel FRACKIN ROCKS. There's no getting around it. I'm tired of the Dean&Sam show - Kelpy wants more Dean&Castiel. The semi-erotic tension between the two of them in the kitchen - holy crap priceless! I loved it. I want more. More more more. And not just with the heavy homoeroticism, but just more. Someone needs to lift Dean out of his funk, and Castiel is the man to do it.

Also, it was great to get the introduction of the big-bad's series plot already. The seals and the badness? Great way to keep the "monster-of-the-week" episodes going, but incorporate them into the main plot. Nice.

Lesson learned: Castiel's the boss. 

• 4.3 In the Beginning
  Rating: 10/5

No really - ten out of five. I've been waiting for the story on the mom since day one, now it's finally here, and it's awesome! I love that Dean now has guilt - and that Castiel set him up to feel partly responsible for what happened. And god the mom is SO much more interesting than John. No offense to John, but these boys would have been much better off with the mother. There's now officially no doubt about that... though there's never been much doubt, but it's all erased and I'm glad. Everything was awesome. I am pleased. BIG BONUS: no Sam in this episode. Love.

Lesson learned: Fate can't be broken, even with an angel on your shoulder.

• 4.4 Metamorphosis
  Rating: 4/5

As much as I love Dean, it does irritate me that he is so quick to accept Sam's powers are evil. Mind exorcism = kick ass. This whole episode was a mess, but in a good way. The Winchesters are finally having to face up to the idea that being on the "good" side does not necessarily mean that they kill everything that isn't 100% human... oh wait, we've been dealing with this for a long while. Bonus points for the wife being Micah from Warehouse 13 and bonus points for everything going to hell. 

Lesson learned: Isn't funny how the "good" guys can push innocent people over the edge, into darkness? 

• 4.5 Monster Movie and 4.6 Yellow Fever
  Collective Rating: 3/5

Not thrilled. Honestly. I thought big, nice things were coming because Roomie insisted that Yellow Fever is her absolute favorite episode. Let me just get off my chest now: it pissed me off. 

Monster Movie: Cute. But we lost sight of the big picture. Nice to see Dean get some things off his chest to someone who will actual listen (yes, that is a barb at the fact that Sam is clueless).

Yellow Fever: Pissed. Me. Off. Straight up. I felt like we're back in early S3. (1) Dean has the disease because he's a dick? Really... no, really? WTF people?!!?! (2) We scare the ghost by putting him through the same torture that killed him. WHAT? Ugly. Ugly ugliness. Hated this episode. 

Lesson Learned: Isn't it funny how these characters seem to take two steps forward and three steps back with every episode?

Wrap up: It seemed so awesome. We were going to fight the 60-whatever seals as Lilith opened them. Our boys had grown and would continue to grow. Only... we stopped. Hopefully the next two episodes on the second disk restore my faith. Sometimes the writing is just, well... not the best.

Supernatural 4.1: Lazarus Rising

I watched this episode twice. The first time I was distracted by my brand-new color nook. The second time I was knitting. Also, the second time I was alone (this will be important soon). I got a lot more out of the episode the second time around. I don't know if it was the two beers I had beforehand, or the fact that I was alone/less distracted, but it was a nice one to re-watch.

Overall Rating: 5/5***

• The entire time I kept thinking: Already???? As much as we all know I do NOT want a Sam-solo episode, it seemed that they brought Dean back much too quickly. Even factoring in the summer break between seasons - it seemed like a waste of a season. So he's in hell and we see, what - 30 seconds of torture? That's it? Not enough.
• I would have completely believed that Dean in the coffin was a hell torture device. I actually fought with Roomie about it. She kept saying "he's alive, LOOK! he's alive" and I didn't like it, I didn't want to believe it - it's moments like this that make me want to make this process a solo-adventure. Because I honestly didn't want him to be alive in that moment. I wanted the "crawling out of your grave" to be Dean's own special emotional torture. And the eeriness of the opening scenes - the grave sight, the fallen trees, the abandoned store. Even my second time through, in which I knew for a fact that he was alive, it seemed like it would have been much more interesting if he wasn't, and it's really set up for a few minutes as if he might still be dead.
  In my mind, Dean was tortured this way, over and over. And in each instance Bobby and Sam would have to convince him that he was alive, and the moment he let his guard down - BOOM! Back in the coffin. Because guys, that's totes what this world would do to our Dean. So let's see it. Let's see what hell can spit out at him. Possibly, I will concede, this isn't necessary in Dean's case. "He tortures himself enough" on the emotional front, all the demons think, so they leave him alone.
   ... Yeah, I'm not buying that logic. The writers dropped the ball. They got too excited about starting this season that they didn't even seem to consider torturing Dean. As awful as this sounds, I want this season to be about Dean dealing with PTSD. Because hey - it may be a show about angels and demons, but let's keep it real, kids.
  
• And then there's a weird girl in panties in Sam's hotel room... (I'm skipping the Bobby intro scene because hey - anorexic girls in panties is always more interesting than scruffy guys splashing holy water on dead people) ... which Roomie immediately tells me is Ruby. There goes that reveal. Thanks. On a second watch, I was hoping that there would be a clue - that Sam(JaredP) would throw me a bone, be an actor for just a moment - but there was nothing. I'd have to fine-tooth-comb it to find the barest hint that Sam and Ruby were on the same page at all. He always just looks confused.
  
• I mostly missed the sexy talk with the gypsy woman the first time through, and didn't feel like I was missing anything the second time through. To be honest, every time sexuality is discussed on this show, it's done so poorly and so... ugh! Masochistically, that I just try to ignore it. As far as I'm concerned, Sam was neutered pre-puberty and Dean is just hiding in the closet. 
  
• The seance was interesting - seeing her eyes burn out clued me in fast that the angels were here, they're queer, and they don't want any more bears. Also - BIG shock to me that Castiel would be mentioned so early. I though I was going to have to wait for the season's close to even get a whiff of him. Yeay for surprises.
  
• The scene with the demon woman was pretty interesting. Dean figured things out pretty quickly. "The smart brother's back." Yes indeed, my boy. Yes indeed.
  
• And then we have Sam sneaking off by himself out of bloodlust and Dean sneaking off with Bobby out of curiosity. I frickin LOVE this! THIS. This is the best twist the writers could have given us at this point. Dean's back from hell, and suddenly the Winchesters don't have the same goal anymore. And they're both okay, not only with lying to each other, but with allowing each other to lie. Dean obvs knows that Sam is up to no good. Sam... well, he's kind of slow, so I'll give him a few more episodes to figure out that there's an irreparable distance between him and Dean. At any other moment, Dean would have dropped everything to find out what Sam was up to. Castiel or no Castiel.
  I've been wanting - from the very first episode when I totally pegged this story to be, on a large scale, a discussion of the Prodigal Son motif. I want desperately for the Winchesters to take apposing sides. I know they won't. But I really, really want them to not just drift apart personally, but also... I guess the only right word is "politically" - I want them to find themselves in different armies.
  
• Sam's powers - well worth the wait. I'm not sold on him yet, but I loved seeing him rip the demon out of her host just with his mind. I figured - telepathic powers, he was going to be the male version of Pru from Charmed. No. He kicks demon ass. Good for him. I'm sure Ruby is training him to be a demon warrior and not a warrior for god... but hey, I'm down with that. Ruby is interesting, despite me not being fond of her new body and despite me knowing that she turns out.... well... Let's just say I know how she turns out.
  
• Castiel is in the house, yo. I was shocked and amazed that he actually entered the scene already. No lead up. No agonizing episodes wondering if he was going to appear. There he is. All that I wanted and more... yes, more.
  First Impression: "Don't get attached to this body, Don't get attached to this body, don't get attached to this body." Roomie: "Get attached" Me: "Oh. I'm attached."
  Second Impression:
  (1) His powers make the same whispering sound Sam's make. That's interesting.
  (2) Poor Castiel, why did he think Dean could hear his true voice? Why can't he, is the better question.
  (3) Bravo Dean, for bringing up the fact that the difference between demon possession and an angel's host is a very fine line. Way to stay on your toes, hun.
  (4) Oh god. The look on Castiel's face when he asked, "You don't think you deserve to be saved?" It was not just a question, it was a realization. This. Okay, so I know I'm supposed to love Castiel, and I take fandom seriously, so I loved him on sight. But this was the moment when I knew why I should and do love him. Because he's just a normal angel doing his job and god asks him to save some schmuck from hell and he can't figure out why the bloke can't hear him and then! There it is. Dean's problem isn't that he "doesn't have faith" in the lord. It's that he doesn't have faith in himself. And that realization on Castiel's face was... so sad. He looked like he'd rather Dean was Lucifer's son himself. Dean stopped being a job, and became a person for whom Castiel has compassion for and emotional linkage to.
  I'm not jumping the gun, here. This is basically the thing that keeps people flocking about Dean. Everyone, at this point - especially the audience, knows that Dean doesn't think too highly of himself. To have a new character, within seconds of his introduction, figure that out and have it be the most devastating thing he's heard? This is how you make sure the audience will love him.
  And I do.
  (5) I find it incredibly interesting that Azazel had work for Sam to do and now "the lord" has work for Dean to do. This is all going to lead back to the mom, eventually. I think she knew what was what. Obviously John was flying blind and lead his kids unwittingly straight into the battle that was already looking for them. Makes me wish (not for the first time) that we were watching Samantha and Denise tour the U.S. with their mommy...
  

While we're on the subject of battle-warrior-females... where the hell is Meg???

Bonus points for Castiel and Dean's interactions. The episode wasn't strong in it's own right, but it drove forward everything that's going to be happening this season. Perfect score, even though I should take points away from Sam, just because. Since it's the season premier, and Castiel MORE than makes up for Sam's lack (hahahaha), we'll keep this episode at five out of five... lightning-shadow-angel-wings.


*** I'm sticking with 5s instead of 10s for now because, quite frankly, nothing about this show is really sticking yet. Other than the episodes in early S3 with the females that don't know they're Supes and how the Winchesters help them (the were and the ghost), no single episode as of yet has made a lasting impact. I vaguely remember an episode in S1 that I loved... but I can't remember at the moment what it was or why I loved it.